This Week's Rare Bird Alert

This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, March 26.

A golden eagle was seen in the area of the Vernon Dam on the Connecticut River on March 24 and 25. It was seen both over the river, which is technically in New Hampshire, and on the Vermont side of the river.

Four snowy owls were seen during the past week, including one in Seabrook, one in Hampton, one in Rye, and one on Great Bay near the Portsmouth Country Club, all on March 22. The snowy owl in Rye was also seen on several other days.

Two different rough-legged hawks, dark morph and light morph individuals, were seen at the Pease International Tradeport near Short Road in Newington on several days during the past week.

A spotted towhee was spotted in Rye on Jan. 25, and has been seen many times since then. It was last reported on March 23rd. It has been seen foraging on the ground on the corner nearest the traffic island at the intersection of Central Road and Route 1A.

A red-headed woodpecker was seen visiting a birdfeeder at a private residence in Newmarket on March 22, but has not been relocated.

A glaucous gull was reported from the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, and two Iceland gulls were reported from Rockingham Park in Salem, all on March 23.

A pair of Barrow’s goldeneyes was seen on the Merrimack River in Manchester on March 25 and 26. A male Barrow’s goldeneye was seen off of Great Boar’s Head in Hampton and another male was seen on Great Bay, both on March 22.

Large numbers of ducks and geese were seen gathering at the Vernon dam on the Connecticut River during the past week, Highlights include three cackling geese, 90 snow geese, and 10 northern pintails.

Five canvasbacks were reported on Great Bay from the Discovery Center in Greenland on March 22.

Eight brant were reported from the coast on March 23.

Two American wigeon were seen on the Winnipesaukee River in Tilton on March 24, and two were seen on Great Bay on the 23rd.

Thirty-seven lesser scaup were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on March 22, and more than 1,600 greater scaup were tallied on Great Bay on the 23rd.

Several greater scaup and lesser scaup continued to be seen in the Tilton and Laconia area during the past week.

Two hundred ring-necked ducks were seen on Powwow Pond in Kingston on March 23.

A red-necked grebe was seen on the Merrimack River in Boscawen on March 21 and March 23.

Six snow buntings were seen at Hampton Beach State Park on March 23.

A pair of evening grosbeaks was seen visiting a birdfeeder at a private residence in Richmond on March 25 and 26.

A rusty blackbird was seen in Barrington on March 19 and 20, and one was seen in Rye on the 23rd.

Two fox sparrows were seen in Durham on March 24.

There were several American woodcocks and killdeer reported during the past week.

An eastern towhee was reported from Manchester on March 24.There were several reports of migrant tree swallows during the past week including 50 seen foraging over the Merrimack River in Manchester on March 25.

Two eastern phoebes were reported from Hinsdale on March 24.

A greater yellowlegs and a great egret were seen in Rye on March 23.

More than 30 fish crows were reported from Salem on March 23.

There were many turkey vulture sightings during the past week, including 30 in Lakeport on March 24, and 12 in West Lebanon on the 23rd.

Several migrating ospreys, northern harriers, red-shouldered hawks, peregrine falcons, American kestrels, and merlins were seen during the past week.

A pair of peregrine falcons is again nesting on the Brady-Sullivan Tower in Manchester. They can be viewed via webcam at: http://www.spectraaccess.com/?page_id=494. The camera times-out after two minutes, but you can re-access it whenever you want.

This information is also available by phone recording: call 224-9909 and press 2 as directed or ask to be transferred. If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: birdsetc@nhaudubon.org. Please put either “bird sighting” or “Rare Bird Alert” in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org.